Darwin Li Paddling Clinic

DASA is hosting a 2 day Paddle Camp with Darwin Li. This clinic is a two day event with a total on-water time of 8.5 hours.

• Saturday, May 27, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
• Sunday, May 28, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm   Break on Sunday is 12:00 – 12:30 pm. Please bring a brown bag lunch as we will be re-starting promptly at 12:30.
  • You are also advised to bring a change of clothing, lawn chairs, and water.
  • There is no charge for steers/drummers. Please contact Karen directly if you wish to register as a steers or drummer for this clinic.
  • Please note: It is recommended that paddlers have at least one season previously of dragon boat paddling on the lake for this clinic.
  • Due to the interactive nature of this clinic, registration spaces are limited.

DASA members register for the Clinic here.  CCD members, please contact Karen Johnson or Suzanne Harris for your registration link.

Camp Agenda (Darwin’s Bio follows the Camp Agenda):

1. What makes Champions
   1. 1. Technically
      2. Physiologically (muscle and cardiovascular systems)
      3. Mentally
   2. The 1 Main Concept of Paddling
   3. The 2 Rules of Flow
   4. Sport Specific Training vs. Undirected Training
   5. The difference between
   6. Blade mechanics vs. body mechanics
   7. Muscle Progression (Body)
      1. 1.  A-frame
         2. Legs
         3. Hips
         4. Core
         5. Arms
   8.  Blade
      1. 1. Catch
            1. 1. Why the catch is about the blade
         2. Exit
            1. 1. Types of exits
               2. Why the physics of the exit matter (Time permitting )
   9. Putting it all together
      1. Ultimate Drop
      2. Ultimate Rotation
   10. Boat flow (Time permitting)
       1. Pressing down vs. “the light touch”
       2. Porpoising
       3. Wave and form drag
       4. Effective body weight vs. swinging

Biography: Darwin Li

Darwin Li has been involved with paddling since 1996. Darwin paddled for many competitive dragon boat teams and has also cross-trained in both outrigger canoe and flatwater paddling. He was a national champion in 2004 with the False Creek Racing Canoe Club. Darwin began coaching competitively in 2004 with RGL United in Vancouver where he led the team to a 4- division improvement. Thereafter, he also coached outrigger canoe as well as with numerous other clubs and teams.

In 2008, he returned to his hometown of Edmonton and coached the newly formed Oil City Crew until 2019. He also helped to form a partnership with the Prairie Dragons Paddling Club (PDPC) in 2013-14, with whom he
both coached and drummed numerous top 10 finishes at the World Club Crew Championships in Ravenna, Italy in 2014. This included a World Championship with the adaptive team Dragon Sight. In Alberta, his teams
have won every race at least once. He was named Co-Coach of the Canadian National Para Dragon Boat Team in 2021 and has received a number of accolades for his achievements including:

• City of Edmonton Citation and Performance Award – 2016
• CNIB Special Recognition for Community Achievement – 2015
• ‘Top 40 Under 40’ by Avenue Magazine – 2014

A number of his athletes have been named to Team Canada in both dragon boat and outrigger and have subsequently become world champions. As an administrator, Darwin chaired the Development of Dragon Boat in Western Canada Committee (DDBWC) in 2015-16.

Personally, Darwin resides in Edmonton where he delivers motivational speeches and teaches leadership. He also keeps busy with his family who enjoy cheering for the Oilers and watching the Survivor TV show.